German rock star Campino expresses support for Merkel

Canadian Press

Published: Nov 22, 2017 at 8:55 a.m.

Updated: Nov 22, 2017 at 10 a.m.

BERLIN — One of Germany's most famous rock stars, the frontman of punk band Die Toten Hosen, is throwing his support behind German Chancellor Angela Merkel, calling on her to "hang in there" after talks to form new government collapsed over the weekend.

Party talks broke down after the pro-business Free Democrats walked out of negotiations with Merkel's conservative bloc and the left-leaning Greens. That has raised the possibility of new elections, something that many Germans are wary of.

Singer Campino, whose real name is Andreas Frege, told radio station ffn that with the whole word looking for stability, replacing Merkel "would be a sign for me that Germany wants to deconstruct itself."

He added: "I don't think anybody can really have an interest in new elections."